Though the US is in the process of withdrawing from the Intermediate
Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, a major Cold War treaty, the Pentagon says that there are no plans to actually develop any intermediate range nuclear weapons.
The US pullout from INF came after years of accusing Russia of a
violation of the treaty based on a single missile. Russia maintains that
missile was never tested in the range that would be covered by the INF,
and was only deployed and tested at a shorter range.
Russia responded to the US withdrawal from the treaty by withdrawing
themselves, and says that they intend to develop some actual
intermediate-range nuclear missiles once the treaty is cancelled.
Intermediate range missiles are more practical for Russia than the US at
any rate. The US replaced their traditional INF-covered missiles with
submarine-based ones, and would struggle to convince EU nations to host
US nuclear arms even if they were developed.
With no intention of even attempting to make those missiles, it makes
even less sense for the US to withdraw from the deal. If there were no
plans for new missiles, all they did was give Russia a legal
justification to develop new missiles.
Good observation; why give Russia even more reason to develop new missiles?
It works if the Russian have to destroy new missiles under a new arms control treaty though; force them to burn a little cash.
Flawed observation; the two sides already have these missiles. Russia will have more “work” to do adapting their missiles to land-based. The USA, so Russia avers, has these already in place in Central Europe–or will have little modifications to make to its “defensive” missiles.
Could someone explain how this is “getting along with Russia” ?
Watch on vesti news the meeting between Putin, Lavrov and Defence Minister Shoigu to see the decisions made, plus the list of violations the USA has engaged in since 1999. Any normal nation would welcome an improved Treaty if it saw failings in the present one, but the USA has to cast them aside and waste more money on aggression.